Introduction to Feeding a Person
Good health begins with eating the right foods in the right amounts. Often a person requires help to eat because of illness or disability. When a person needs help with eating, it is important to protect their safety, independence, and sense of worth.
Who Needs Help Eating?
- Persons who have trouble chewing or swallowing
- Persons with poor vision
- Persons who have trouble holding a knife, fork or spoon
- Persons with altered mental states such as dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease
There are persons who lose the ability to chew, move food around the mouth and swallow food. Difficulty swallowing is called dysphagia. When this occurs, food collects in the back of the throat and then accidentally goes down the breathing tube (trachea) causing choking. These same persons are also at risk for aspiration pneumonia, a serious infection of the lungs. When you care for a person with dysphagia you must feed them in a way that prevents choking.
Here is Carl’s Story:
Ever since my mother died, I moved back home and have been helping my dad. Lately, he has been losing weight. We suspected he was either not taking time to fix a meal for himself or he was having trouble eating because of his Parkinson’s disease. His doctor said that I should keep an eye on him while he eats a meal. Sure enough, his Parkinson’s disease was causing him problems with swallowing his food. He would always leave some food in his mouth and sometimes he started choking. Dad needs someone to help with feeding him. I have learned it takes time and patience but I think he is eating a little bit better since I started helping him. Meeting with the dietitian recommended by Dad’s doctor has helped too. She has shown us ways to feed Dad and lessen the chance of his choking on food.